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Mogadishu deaths at 6 000
02/12/2007 23:26 - (SA)
Mogadishu, Somalia - Violence in Somalia's war-ravaged capital has killed more than 5 960 civilians this year, the country's oldest human rights group said Sunday.
Sudan Ali Ahmed, chairman of Elman Human Rights, also said 7 980 people were wounded and more than 700 000 displaced from their homes as the country's government struggled to contain a bloody Islamic insurgency.
Government officials, who have accused Elman of exaggerating death tolls, were not immediately available for comment.
The group, which releases monthly human rights reports, has been tallying the death toll in secret after the mayor of Mogadishu banned the organization in October. Elman says it collects figures from hospitals, local residents and its own recording of burials in Mogadishu.
"Our staff members are collecting figures and facts about human rights abuses by visiting residential areas and medical centers," Ahmed told The Associated Press by telephone Sunday from an undisclosed location.
Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Dheere ordered the independent Somali group to close its offices on October 8 this year.
Ahmed said his group was accused of spreading "exaggerated and false information" about the country's fragile government.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since a group of warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, then turned their heavily armed supporters on each other.
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